Here are questions and comments from students and school officials during the 1 1/2-hour meeting at Lake Worth High School in Lake Worth.

Q.

Maurice Blackwood, a senior at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, asked when the district is going to increase the capacity of the cafeteria and gymnasium at Atlantic High.

A.

Pell: "I cannot tell you when we will do it, but we should put it in our budget. I will be glad to bring that up to board members at a future meeting. You have one of the first-rate core curriculums in the county with the international baccalaureate program. There have been recent renovations to the school, which attempted to address the need for more classroom space at the school. What is priority is classroom space."

A.

Graham: "A new high school in Boynton Beach, which is being planned, should alleviate some of the crowding."

Q.

Jessica Mitchell, Forest Hill High in West Palm Beach, asked why schools are not reaping benefits from huge amounts of money from the lottery.

A.

Graham: "When someone sells a lottery ticket, 5 cents goes to the vendor, 50 cents goes to the prize, 7 cents goes to advertisements and 38 cents goes to the General Fund. Two billion dollars a year is generated in lottery ticket sales. Of the total revenue, $750 million is given to education. The money has to be shared with 67 school districts, 28 public community colleges and nine public universities. When that money is shared with all interests, students get about $300 a piece from the lottery. And none of you can get a decent education with that kind of money."

Q.

Julie Chenery, a senior at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, asked why county teachers are working without contracts.

A.

Pell: "Teacher contracts have two separate issues. One is language and the other is salary and benefits. Usually, one year language is discussed, and the next year salary and benefits. What is happening right now is that the designees for the School Board and the teachers' union are meeting to discuss both issues. Language changes in the contract have not been done in a long time. This is the reason why it is taking so long for both sides to reach an agreement. It is unusual to have this happening on the district level, but there are so many issues on the table."

Q.

Jared Kopf, a junior at Spanish River High School, asked how busing will affect students in the years to come.

A.

Graham: "A minimum of 6 percent and a maximum of 40 percent of a school's population should consist of black students. We are under a voluntary agreement that keeps us from going to court. Seventeen to 20 percent of the students in the county are black."

A.

Bjork: "I think it is wrong to divide a community for bureaucratic numbers. I think there are other ways to integrate schools besides busing."

Q.

Cristina Cotilla, a senior at Olympic Heights High School, west of Boca Raton, said it is difficult for students to get important questions answered by school officials. "We would not have so many questions if we were able to get in touch with you," she said.

A.

Bjork: "I don't think there is a problem. I will work with you on any given day that you may need help. We get calls from students all the time. Whenever you need us for something, we are always there."